As a new semester begins, the campus has come back to life after a brief winter hibernation. For the first time in years, Cairn had a four week break, much needed for some, too long for others, which has left most students refreshed and ready for a new semester, though a bit anxious to see how the new year will attempt to overwhelm their work ethic and mental stability.

God greeted us back on Sunday with a fresh snowfall, the first of the year. Students can enjoy the beautiful white blanket while bundled in so many layers as to render their features unrecognizable, running from class to class and greeting those they see on the way. With the fresh snow has come some fresh students, eager to begin in a new stage of life, as well as old students, happy to greet old and new friends after being apart for so long.

Many students have commented, “It’s good to be back, four weeks is too long,” while others dread the ever-time-consuming study, work, and practice hours, commenting, “I am not ready for this.” Ready or not, the new semester has come and we can look forward to the new experiences, knowledge, and growth that will come with it.

Dr. Williams opened the year with a message on labels and identity. He has reminded us to keep our identity in Christ and to focus on being a child of God. He warns us against getting distracted by all the labels we may tie to our identity, forgetting in the process who we truly are. As we go through changes in our lives and meet new people, transitioning to new groups, joining new activities, new clubs, new classes, we should remember that we are created in the image of God and that we find our identity in Him. Our label as Christian far supersedes any label we may attempt to claim.

From all of us on the Scroll staff, welcome back to the school many call home, we pray for all in this new semester.